SEOUL (RVA News): Archbishop Peter Chung Soon-Taick of Seoul, South Korea, expressed concern over North Korea’s decision to cut off road and rail access to South Korea with the aim of “completely separating” the two countries.
Speaking with Fides on October 9, Archbishop Chung, who is also apostolic administrator of Pyongyang, lamented that “the desire for reunification is diminishing” and “hope is fading” due to the recent blockade.
“Tensions between the two parts of Korea have reached their highest levels in recent years,” the archbishop added.
On October 15, news agencies, including CNN and the BBC, reported that North Korea went ahead and blew up road and rail connections, claiming the move to be a “self-defensive measure”.
The Gyeongui line on the West coast and Donghae line on the East coast, two major road and railway links connecting the North and South, were destroyed by explosives at around 12:00pm. Korean local time, according to Seoul’s Joint Chiefs of Staff, CNN reported
“It is appropriate to continue to dream of peaceful coexistence and to keep the light of hope burning in Korean society, especially today, in the current stalemate, with the total blockade of communication routes, the situation is very bleak,” Archbishop Chung said.
“We are approaching the Holy Year [in 2025], which has as its theme hope: we are pilgrims of hope, also with regard to relations with the North,” he stressed.
Meanwhile, Bishop Simon Kim Ju-young of Chuncheon, president of the Episcopal Commission for Reconciliation, revealed that the borders were completely shut even for humanitarian aid, which was kept open in the past.
“Even if Korean public opinion is still quite divided on policy towards the North, all Koreans are united when it comes to sending humanitarian aid to North Korea,” Bishop Kim explained.
He urged everyone to pray for “the doors to open.”
